Language/Malayalam/Grammar/Present-Tense-Verbs

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Malayalam → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Present Tense Verbs

Welcome to our lesson on Present Tense Verbs in Malayalam! Understanding how to use present tense verbs is crucial for building sentences and expressing actions occurring right now. This lesson will provide you with the foundational skills needed to form simple sentences, making your communication in Malayalam more vibrant and effective.

Importance of Present Tense Verbs

Present tense verbs are essential in everyday communication. They allow you to describe actions that are currently happening or habitual actions that occur regularly. Mastering this aspect of grammar will enable you to express your thoughts clearly and engage in conversations confidently.

In this lesson, we will cover:

• An overview of present tense verbs in Malayalam.

• The structure of present tense sentences.

• Examples to illustrate their usage.

• Exercises to practice what you've learned.

Let's dive in!

Overview of Present Tense Verbs

Present tense verbs in Malayalam reflect actions that are happening now. Unlike English, which has a more straightforward structure, Malayalam incorporates various forms and endings based on the subject pronoun involved.

== Structure of Present Tense Verbs

In Malayalam, the structure generally follows this format:

• Subject Pronoun + Verb + Object/Complement

Here's a quick breakdown of how to form present tense verbs:

1. Identify the Subject: The person or thing performing the action.

2. Choose the Correct Verb Form: The verb will change based on the subject.

3. Add the Object or Complement: What is being acted upon or described.

== Examples of Present Tense Verbs

Let’s look at some examples to make this clearer. We will use common verbs to illustrate how they adapt based on the subject pronoun.

Malayalam	Pronunciation	English
ഞാൻ എഴുതുന്നു	ñān ezhuthunnu	I write
നീ എഴുതുന്നു	nī ezhuthunnu	You write (singular)
അവൻ എഴുതുന്നു	avaṉ ezhuthunnu	He writes
അവൾ എഴുതുന്നു	avaḷ ezhuthunnu	She writes
അവർ എഴുതുന്നു	avar ezhuthunnu	They write
നാം എഴുതുന്നു	nām ezhuthunnu	We write
നിങ്ങൾ എഴുതുന്നു	niṅṅaḷ ezhuthunnu	You write (plural/formal)
ഞാൻ വായിക്കുന്നു	ñān vāyikkunnu	I read
നീ വായിക്കുന്നു	nī vāyikkunnu	You read (singular)
അവൻ വായിക്കുന്നു	avaṉ vāyikkunnu	He reads
അവൾ വായിക്കുന്നു	avaḷ vāyikkunnu	She reads
അവർ വായിക്കുന്നു	avar vāyikkunnu	They read
നാം വായിക്കുന്നു	nām vāyikkunnu	We read
നിങ്ങൾ വായിക്കുന്നു	niṅṅaḷ vāyikkunnu	You read (plural/formal)
ഞാൻ പാടുന്നു	ñān pāṭunnu	I sing
നീ പാടുന്നു	nī pāṭunnu	You sing (singular)
അവൻ പാടുന്നു	avaṉ pāṭunnu	He sings
അവൾ പാടുന്നു	avaḷ pāṭunnu	She sings
അവർ പാടുന്നു	avar pāṭunnu	They sing
നാം പാടുന്നു	nām pāṭunnu	We sing
നിങ്ങൾ പാടുന്നു	niṅṅaḷ pāṭunnu	You sing (plural/formal)

As you can see from the table above, the verb endings change based on the subject. This is a key difference from English, where the verb remains largely unchanged.

Practical Applications

Now that we've covered the structure and examples, let's look at how we can apply this knowledge in real-life scenarios. Below are several practice exercises designed to help you use present tense verbs in sentences.

Exercises

1. Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct present tense verb form.

• ഞാൻ (to eat) ______.

• നിങ്ങൾ (to play) ______.

• അവർ (to study) ______.

2. Translate to Malayalam

Translate the following sentences into Malayalam:

• I drink water.

• He plays cricket.

• They write letters.

3. Identify the Subject

Read the following sentences and identify the subject pronoun:

• അവൾ പാടുന്നു.

• നാം പഠിക്കുന്നു.

• നിങ്ങൾ വരുന്നു.

4. Create Your Sentences

Using the verbs from our earlier examples, create your own sentences in Malayalam. Aim for at least five sentences.

5. Choose the Right Verb

Choose the correct present tense verb to match the subject:

• (I/You/He) ______ (to read) a book.

• (They/We) ______ (to sing) a song.

6. Conjugation Practice

Conjugate the verb "to write" for all the subject pronouns.

7. Matching Exercise

Match the following subjects with the correct verb forms.

• 1. ഞാൻ a. പാടുന്നു

• 2. അവർ b. എഴുതുന്നു

• 3. അവൻ c. വായിക്കുന്നു

8. Correct the Sentences

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

• ഞാൻ വായിക്കുന്നു. (should be "I read")

• അവൾ പാടുന്നു. (should be "She sings")

• അവർ എഴുതുന്നു. (should be "They write")

9. Dialogue Creation

Write a short dialogue between two friends using present tense verbs. Aim for at least 5 exchanges.

10. Group Activity

In pairs or small groups, act out a scenario using present tense verbs. It could be a conversation at a café, a classroom setting, or any other context.

Solutions and Explanations

1. Fill in the Blanks

• ഞാൻ (to eat) കഴിഞ്ഞു.

• നിങ്ങൾ (to play) കളിക്കുന്നു.

• അവർ (to study) പഠിക്കുന്നു.

2. Translate to Malayalam

• I drink water. → ഞാൻ വെള്ളം കുടിക്കുന്നു.

• He plays cricket. → അവൻ ക്രിക്കറ്റ് കളിക്കുന്നു.

• They write letters. → അവർ കത്ത് എഴുതുന്നു.

3. Identify the Subject

• അവൾ → She

• നാം → We

• നിങ്ങൾ → You (plural/formal)

4. Create Your Sentences

• Example sentences could include:

• ഞാൻ പാചകം ചെയ്യുന്നു. (I cook.)

• അവൻ സഞ്ചാരം ചെയ്യുന്നു. (He travels.)

• അവർ സിനിമ കാണുന്നു. (They watch a movie.)

5. Choose the Right Verb

• I (to read) വായിക്കുന്നു a book.

• They (to sing) പാടുന്നു a song.

6. Conjugation Practice

• I write - ഞാൻ എഴുതുന്നു

• You write - നീ എഴുതുന്നു

• He writes - അവൻ എഴുതുന്നു

• She writes - അവൾ എഴുതുന്നു

• They write - അവർ എഴുതുന്നു

• We write - നാം എഴുതുന്നു

• You (plural) write - നിങ്ങൾ എഴുതുന്നു

7. Matching Exercise

• 1. ഞാൻ → b. എഴുതുന്നു

• 2. അവർ → a. പാടുന്നു

• 3. അവൻ → c. വായിക്കുന്നു

8. Correct the Sentences

• Corrected:

• ഞാൻ വായിക്കുന്നു.

• അവൾ പാടുന്നു.

• അവർ എഴുതുന്നു.

9. Dialogue Creation

• Example Dialogue:

• Friend 1: "നിങ്ങൾ എന്തു ചെയ്യുന്നു?" (What are you doing?)

• Friend 2: "ഞാൻ പുസ്തകം വായിക്കുകയാണ്." (I am reading a book.)

• Friend 1: "നിങ്ങൾക്ക് എങ്ങനെ പോകുന്നു?" (How are you?)

• Friend 2: "ഞാൻ നന്നായി ആണ്!" (I am good!)

10. Group Activity

• Example Scenario:

• At a café:

• Person 1: "ഞാൻ കാപ്പി കഴിക്കുന്നു." (I am having coffee.)

• Person 2: "ഞാൻ ചായ കഴിക്കുന്നു." (I am having tea.)

By practicing these exercises, you'll reinforce your understanding of present tense verbs in Malayalam. Remember, practice makes perfect!

As we wrap up this lesson, I encourage you to keep experimenting with present tense verbs in your daily conversations. The more you use them, the more natural they will feel.

Table of Contents - Malayalam Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Malayalam Script

• Basic Letters
• Conjunct Consonants
• Vowel Markers
• Syllable Structure

  ---

Everyday Phrases

• Greetings and Introductions
• Asking for Directions
• Food and Drink
• Numbers and Time

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject Pronouns
• Word Order
• Nouns and Adjectives
• Present Tense Verbs

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing People
• Datings
• Work and Professions

  ---

Kerala Culture and Traditions

• The Land of Kerala
• Festivals of Kerala
• Arts and Performances
• Cuisine and Food Traditions

  ---

Future and Past Tenses

• Future Tense Verbs
• Past Tense Verbs
• Compound Sentences
• Noun Cases

  ---

Travel and Accommodation

• Booking a Hotel
• Means of Transport
• Tourist Attractions
• Emergencies

  ---

Malayalam Cinema and Literature

• Golden Era of Malayalam Cinema
• Famous Malayalam Writers and Works
• Malayalam Music

  ---

Advanced Sentence Structures

• Passive Voice
• Conditional Sentences
• Direct and Indirect Speech
• Participles and Infinitives

  ---

Technology and Social Media

• Using Social Media
• Emoticons and Expressions
• Technology and Gadgets
• E-commerce and Banking

Sources

• Malayalam grammar - Wikipedia
• Krishnan | Unlocking the verbal spine in Malayalam: Past tense is ...

Other Lessons

• Negation
• Future Tense
• How to Use Be
• Compound Sentences
• Conjunct Consonants
• Direct and Indirect Speech
• Plurals
• How to Use Have
• 0 to A1 Course

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